Thursday, June 28, 2007

It started 40 years ago. She’d get up at 5 am, and would walk with her 75-pound pet German Sheppard dog from her neighborhood in North Little Rock to McCain Mall and then back home without stopping.

Willie Mae Neely was born four blocks from her current home in North Little Rock. She said that she has never had any serious health problems and that she simply enjoys exercising, being mobile and helping folks.

“One day I woke up and I felt like going for a walk, so I did – I’ve never looked back since then,” she said with a big smile.Neely works out three days a week at the base fitness center by lifting weights using the Nautilus equipment to gain body strength and stamina.

Her workout includes performing two sets of at least 20 repetitions on each of the 17 pieces of gym equipment. She then goes upstairs and rides the stationary bicycle for 30 minutes. She has been coming to the base fitness center for more than 20 years and has no plans of stopping any time soon.

Oh, by the way, Willie Mae Neely is 80 years old.

She said that, in addition to working out at the gym, she takes care of a very moderate sized garden in her back yard. She grows mustard and collard greens, okra, green peppers, cucumbers, squash and cantaloupe. She also cans fruit, beans, peaches, green beans and tomatoes. And, she makes her own jelly and pickles.

“I have three deep freezers in my house and all three are full,” she said enthusiastically. “If anyone needs food, I can and will feed them,” she said.

She said that although she does eat healthy, she still likes to eat good foods like ice cream, pound cake and other baked goods.

“I maintain my body weight of 158 pounds and I try not let it get higher than that,” she said. “When I see it rising to 160 or more, I cut back on my eating and work out even harder at the gym.”

Neely said that being healthy enables her to be mobile and to get around so that she can do things she likes, like taking care of her husband and helping to raise her 12-year-old grandson.

“I have buried quite a few of my family members," Neely said. “I took care of my son for eight months when he had a tumor on his brain and cancer on both lungs. He died in April 2004,” she said.

“Four months later, my husband had a heart attack. I have been taking care of him ever since.

“I also took on the responsibility of helping care for my grandson. He is a handfull, but I can handle him too," she said.“She is simply an amazing woman,” said 67-year-old retired Air Force member Tracy Nieser.

“There is a bunch of us senior citizens who come here to the gym three times a week to stay fit, but she is the main one who is always here, no matter what,” he said. “She and I swap recipes and she has a great sense of humor,” he said. “She is awesome.”

Echoing those statements, retired Air Force member Robert Radford, 53, said, “She is truly an inspiration. I just hope I’m in as good as shape as she is when I reach her age.”

Personal hair stylist and 20-year friend Robert Stencil said, “At age 80, there is nothing she cannot and will not do. She is one of the most outstanding senior citizens I have ever met in my life."

“Through God’s grace, I have been blessed with good health” she said. “I feel He wants me to use that good health to help others.

“I have been an active member of my church, 8th Street Baptist Church in Little Rock for over 50 years and the Lord has blessed me in many ways,” Neely said.

“As long as He enables me to get up every morning, take my walk, get my workout in at the gym and be able to take care of others, that’s what I will do,” she said smiling.

“She helps people at her church, she feeds strangers and she takes care of children or anyone who needs a helping hand.” Stencil added, “If there is such a thing as having a heart of gold, then she surely has it.”

Neely said that she does not want anything in return for the good deeds she does. She said that God is the reason she is able to do everything, so all of the praise and glory goes to him.

THE DROP ZONE CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, AR 72078. You may also email them to dropzoneclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in Friday issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

THRIFT SHOP open to the public. MWF, 10 am to 2 pm, first Saturday monthly. Great bargains. All revenues used to support mission. Volunteers and donations welcome. Jacksonville Care Channel, 201 Elm, 982-4647.

This weekend at the courthouse square in Jasper, come celebrate Newton County’s title of “Elk Capital of Arkansas.” You will find quality artists, crafters, other vendors showcasing their wares, as well as nature seminars, wildlife displays, a fishing derby, lots of children’s activities, great entertainment, a brilliant fireworks display and the infamous Elk Permit Drawings. Fun for all ages! Admission is free; contact Nancy Atkinson or Patti Failing at (870) 446-2455 for more information or visit www.theozarkmountains.com.

Listen to the Bats

Every Monday evening this summer at dusk, until Aug. 27, park interpreter “Batman” Harry of Devil’s Den State Park will present a unique program were participants will learn what bat species live at the park. Then, with the aid of a bat detector, listen to their echolocation calls as they forage for their evening meal over the lake. Contact the park at (479) 761-3325 for starting times. Admission is free, meet at the swimming pool boat house to participate.

Montgomery County Front Porch Pickin’

The Montgomery County Arkansas Frontporch Stage and Possums Unlimited is hosting an acoustic jam sessions and free concerts every Saturday through Oct. 27 in Mt. Ida. Jams start at 3 p.m.; concerts start at 6:30 p.m. Country, bluegrass and gospel bands perform from the Frontporch Stage on the courthouse lawn. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy music by some of the best bands in Arkansas! Admission is free. For more information visit www.frontporchstage.org.

Bull Shoals-White River State Park Programs

Experience the resources of Bull Shoals-White River State Park with an interpreter as your guide. Now through October, park interpreters offer daily guided trail walks, demonstrations, trout fishing seminars, evening programs and lake and river cruises. Contact the park at (870) 445-3629 for exact programs and times one week in advance. Admission is free, except for lake and river cruises. Cost for the lake cruises are $6.50 for adults and $3.50 for children ages 6-12. River cruises cost $10.

Cantata at First Church of the Nazarene

Sherwood First Church of the Nazarene, located on Hwy. 107 in Sherwood, will have a cantata called “songs of Faith and Freedom” during morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Vacation Bible school, “Tumbleweed Gulch – where God’s love changes everything,” will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. July 9-13.

Boating course tomorrow

The Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer a U.S. Coast Guard “certified” America’s Boating Course tomorrow from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Gander Mountain in Sherwood. The cost of the course is $25. Students can register by calling Joe Zehler at 501-834-6993 or at the beginning of the class.

The 463rd MOS will have a change of command at 10 a.m. Monday at the Conference Center Ballroom. Reception immediately following. Dress is uniform of the day or business attire. Contact 2Lt Knieff at 987-7050 for more details.

Clinics closing at noon July 6

The 314th Medical Group clinics, offices and facilities will close at noon July 6 for the 314th Medical Operations Squadron change of commander. Normal hours will resume July 9. Contact Master Sgt. David Dague at 987-5477 for details.

School, sports physicals available

School and sports physicals are now available now for the upcoming school year. Only children enrolled with a 314th Medical Group provider will be seen for physicals; all other children will need to be seen by their primary care physicians. Call 987-8811 to schedule an appointment for the physical. Bring any necessary, school or sports-required forms to the appointment. Contact the pediatric clinic at 987-7245 for more information.

Legal office closure

The 314th Airlift Wing legal office will close at noon Tuesday. Normal hours will resume July 6.

CGOC fund-raiser

The Litlte Rock Company Grade Officers' Association is hosting a fund-raiser at CiCi's Pizza in Jacksonville from 5-8 p.m. tonight. The CGOC gets 10 percent of all sales.

Thrift shop closure

The thrift shop will be closed for the entire month of July for cleaning and restocking. The store will re-open Wednesday, Aug. 1. Contact Diana Cease at 988-1191 before the closure for details.

Transcript assistance offered

If you have not graduated from the Community College of the Air Force, request your local colleges send your transcripts to CCAF at Maxwell AFB for any classes you finished recently. Officers’ transcripts are sent to Wright Patterson AFB upon degree completion. If you have questions walk-in assistance is available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon.-Thur. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays, or call 987-3417 for an appointment with an education counselor for transcript assistance.

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Pride is alive and well in the U.S. Air Force. I never really doubted it, because it’s easy to see examples of pride in service every day: freshly pressed uniforms, shiny boots, good customs and courtesies.

But like an excited kid conquering the latest and greatest video game, I just like to see the next level sometimes.

I didn’t think I’d ever personally meet a weapons system but the participants in the 2007 SERE Challenge, June 11-14, were just that: a weapons system called “Guardian Angel.”

As I stood on top of Calispell Peak, the tallest mountain in that area of Washington, and looked at a panoramic view of territory the likes of which I’d previously seen only in movies and pictures it would have been natural to focus on the breathtaking vista. But it was impossible to miss the more inspiring work going on as I covered the work of the Guardian Angels surrounding me.

In the early light of morning, I watched Senior Airman Gailin Manzonie dress his teammate’s simulated wounds, pick him up, and not simulate carrying him about 60 yards up to the snow covered summit for a helicopter medical evacuation. Later that day, I heard Staff Sgt. Michael Garcia talking his teammate through a spot of pure mental fatigue as they tied logs together to form a raft and cross frigid, murky pond water.

I witnessed a real-life example of the wingman concept when Staff Sgt. Steven Raethel refused to leave his fallen teammate behind. He would not finish the competition without Staff Sgt. Brandon Klein, who would have rather applied duct tape to his blistered feet (and later painfully remove half the bottom of his foot in peeling it off) than quit trying to complete the challenge.

I heard competitors say, "Outstanding," and "Eat up!" with smiling faces as event organizers handed out plates of "stew" – made from a collection of foul-smelling castoffs from the local butcher shop -- during an exercise to overcome food aversions. I watched them encourage Staff Sgt. Matthew Zimmer to choke down the last of the unpleasant concoction (with great effort) only to learn he still had a two-course dessert of mealworm and cockroach to chew on. Food aversion seemed the only obstacle that gave Sergeant Zimmer much trouble on his way to winning the challenge with his teammate, Sergeant Garcia.

I watched 30 Air Force members voluntarily trek (carrying ruck sacks weighing 60 pounds dry and heavier when wet) through 45-degree water, over hills and ridges thick with downed timber and undergrowth, and arrive, smiling, at the next checkpoint - only to learn what grueling tasks awaited them next. I heard Sergeant Raethel's enthusiasm when he said "You can't beat getting paid to work in the great outdoors!" right after he scaled a 70-foot rock face and prepared to trust his life to a rope and a knot in rappelling down the other side.

I heard poetry in a group of tough guys known for surviving in the wild and rescuing others in combat environments. Upon reaching the top of a ridgeline, Staff Sgt. Sergio Avalos channeled Robert Frost, saying "And miles to go before I sleep ... and miles to go before I sleep!"

Finally, I peered over the edge of a bottomless well of resolve when I saw a group of young officers and enlisted members put aside their blistered feet, sore muscles, and exhausted minds to still crank out dozens of pull-ups and hundreds of push-ups and sit-ups before picking their gear up for a six-mile ruck march around the base.

Pride is alive and well in the Air Force. Thanks to the inspirational dedication of the teams competing in the inaugural SERE Challenge, I finally got to see that next level.

Little Rock’s 2007 Air Mobility Command Rodeo team has been working out in the hot Arkansas sun in preparation for the event’s Fit to Fight competition at McChord AFB Wash., because they are going to be carrying home a bunch of trophies.The Fit to Fight competition consists of the Rodeo team chief plus nine randomly selected team members to be tested on a 1.5 mile run, sit-ups and push-ups much like the Air Force fitness test.

Little Rock’s team has been getting ready for the events’ physical fitness competition with weekly team workouts.Little Rock’s Logistics Readiness Team has been tuning up for the competitions with rucksack marches twice a week in addition to team workouts focusing on the 1.5 mile run, sit-ups and push-ups.

“Everybody’s trying to get their stamina up. It’s about getting everyone up to the same speed, because it doesn’t matter who is the fastest or slowest. Your time doesn’t stop until the last person crosses the finish line. So we try to keep everyone at the same pace so we can finish at the same time.”

The veteran of the 2005 championship Rodeo team said the stamina team members are sweating to build now will reap dividends at McChord. “You have to be on top of your game, because everything is fast-paced and timed,” Sergeant Beaver said.

“It’s requires a lot of attention to detail. When you get tired, you can get lax, but with good stamina you are able to deliver your top performance.”

The competition focuses on readiness, and features airdrop, air refueling, and other events showcasing security forces, aerial port, maintenance and aeromedical evacuation personnel.

There are 45 U.S. teams, including three from the Marine Corps and one from the Coast Guard, as well as international competitors from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

The latest in modifications for the Air Force’s tactical workhorse, the C-130 Hercules, is set to debut with the installation of an improved landing gear, carbon brakes and a new anti-skid system.

A team of engineers and specialists from the 463rd Airlift Group here, Hill AFB, Utah, and Headquarters Air Mobility Command, spent three days recently discussing possible modifications and experimenting with braking systems on 21 different aircraft here.

The improvements will benefit the Air Force with a $250 million savings over the lifetime of the anti-skid system. The projected time-frame to begin this improvement is 2010 with a completion date of 2013.

“The current brakes can handle approximately 200 landings, but with the new system the C-130s will be able to land safely approximately 2,000 times,” said Master Sgt. Kurt Hinman, AMC aircraft hydraulics system manager.

“The wheels will have a longer life; maintenance Airmen won’t have to change systems as often and brake-fires will be greatly reduced. All of these benefits save the Air Force time and money in the long run," Hinman said.

“I have been with the team working on the project for about a year now and I see a high priority on this because the current system is the second oldest system in the C-130 right now,” said Jeremy Goldin, an anti-skid engineer from Hill AFB.

Approximately 600 aircraft will be a part of this improvement, according to Tech. Sgt. Mark Williams, 463rd AG anti-skid team leader.

Knowing that the project isn’t through the complete approval process, the installation won’t come for a few years, said Sgt. Williams; however this is one of the first steps in improving the maintenance side of operations, he said.

Editor’s Note: This is part one of a three part series focusing on deployment readiness.

Are you ready to deploy tomorrow? You should be. We are a highly mobile and deployable Air Force. You wouldn’t deploy without your M-16 or M-9, so don’t deploy without being prepared. This means having yourself, your family, and your professional skills in line.

Ready to fight means consistently participating in a fitness routine. Physical fitness is not something you should rely on gaining through group P.T. but instead something that is a personal responsibility.

It is important to realize that passing the annual fitness test is not the Air Force fitness goal. To successfully boost fitness levels, we must all make regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle a part of our daily regimen. Maintaining a lifestyle of healthy living and physical fitness also helps reduce the risk of injuries and therefore helps increase the readiness of our Airmen. Preparing for deployment means that your family is ready for you to deploy as well. Have a plan ahead of time for child care, your finances, and take the time to educate your family on the resources they have at Little Rock.

Your squadron commanders, First Shirts, spouses clubs, and family readiness center are all resources for your family members while you are deployed. It’s also useful to have a plan for staying in touch while away and giving your family realistic expectations about how often you will be able to communicate based on your job and deployed location.

Ensure that your professional skills are sharp. Executing the same job in wartime, in a stressful environment brings new challenges. Staying sharp while at home helps to ensure success on the job while deployed.

While we would never want a mishap at home, you can ensure that the stakes are even greater while deployed. You can make the most of your deployment by finding ways to develop yourself professionally while away. Take college courses online or sign up for Squadron Officer School by correspondence. Find some time for some professional reading. Above all, be ready to fight!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

THE DROP ZONE CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, AR 72078. You may also email them to dropzoneclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in Friday issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

THRIFT SHOP open to the public. MWF, 10 am to 2 pm, first Saturday monthly. Great bargains. All revenues used to support mission. Volunteers and donations welcome. Jacksonville Care Channel, 201 Elm, 982-4647.

CABOT FSBO. 4 BR All Brick 2100 sq ft home in Magness Creek. A Must see, this home has it all including a unique all glass fireplace, 2 car garage, tons of storage space and Fence Yard. $189,500 Call Bill Carter 501 912 8804 *

RELAX AND FISH WHILE YOUR PROPERTY MAKES MONEY FOR YOU! 190' of lake front on Lake Conway's Green Lake. Property includes a 1050 sf house, a detached garage, storage building and another 2 room building at the water that would be perfect for bait shop, etc. 40 ft concrete boat ramp with public launching permit from Game and Fish. Private dock. Plenty of room for day parking. Also includes 6 RV sites, all with electric and water hook-ups, 3 with sewer. Bath and shower house for campsite guests. Lots of income potential! $225,000. Call Jamie and Tracy at 501-908-1028 for more information. MLS#10150380 RE/MAX of Conway.*

Irish Music and Dance with St. Louis Irish Arts will be held today and Saturday at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View. There will be concerts each evening with a matinee performance at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday featuring the former winners of All-Ireland Championships. Admission is $9 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 12. Visit the Web site www.ozarkfolkcenter.com for more information.

Butterfly Festival this weekend

The 11th Annual Butterfly Festival is today and Saturday at Mount Magazine State Park, 16878 Hwy. 309 South in Paris. There will be activities for butterfly lovers of all ages. Guest speakers and park interpreters will lead walks and talks exploring butterfly biology and gardening.

Hiking Hint: People usually see more butterflies and other wildlife when they explore on their own in quiet groups of three to five, as butterflies are startled easily. Children will enjoy make-and-take crafts. There will be handmade arts and crafts and other festival activities held simultaneously down the mountain in Paris. Admission is free. For more information visit www.butterflyfestival.com.

Blues Festival set in Ft. Smith

The 17th Annual Riverfront Blues Festival is today and Saturday Harry E. Kelly Park in Fort Smith. This year’s line up is top-notch with headliners Indigenous on Friday and Kenny Wayne Shepherd performing on Saturday. Festival line-up, blues in the schools and other information can be found on the Web site www.riverfrontblues.org.

The 57th Annual Opera in the Ozark 2007 Summer Festival runs through July 20 at Inspiration Point Fine Arts Center, 16311 Hwy. 62 West, Eureka Springs. The 2007 season operas are “Falstaff” by Verdi, “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart, “Susannah” by Floyd, and “Little Red Riding Hood” by Barab. Tickets are $15 and $20. Call 479-253-8595 or visit www.opera.org for more information.

The Air Force began the first phase of a new e-mail system recently to enhance communication of Airmen worldwide.AF eMail, known as eMail-for-Life or E4L, is a single, static e-mail address that will not change during the career of an Airman or Air Force civilian employee and is available to all Little Rock Air Force Base personnel.

The current e-mail system, rapid mobility of the force and frequent assignments and career development opportunities outside the Air Force can make it difficult for Airmen to communicate.

“At any given time, we can only reliably connect and communicate with 79 percent of our force through e-mail,” said Capt. Kirk Phillips, information technology division chief at the Air Force Senior Leader Management Office.

“eMail-for-Life” can be obtained at https://imp.afds.af.mil/e4ls/e4laddress.jsp. Once a user is assigned an e-mail address with the @us.af.mil ending, the user will have this address for the duration of their career.

Address formats will not differ much from already established e-mails. For example, 1st Lt. Cory Garcia, stationed at Little Rock AFB, currently has the e-mail address of cory.garcia@littlerock.af.mil. Under E4L, that address will most likely be cory.garcia@us.af.mil. Because many people in the Air Force have the same name, numbers may be added in the order e-mails were obtain.

So, if Lt. Garcia were the third person with that name in the Air Force to reserve his account, his address would then be cory.garcia.3@us.af.mil.

“E-mail is the most critical communication tool that we’re using to implement force development and transform our personnel process. Industry-standard e-business solutions require static e-mail addresses, and that is the direction the Air Force is headed,” Captain Phillips said.

Airmen will be able to complete personnel actions in minutes through e-mail and the Internet, along with other benefits, he said.

“Not only is there a huge potential for Air Force cost avoidance, but mission support will be greatly enhanced by empowering every member to reliably connect and communicate with each other without worry about changing e-mail addresses every couple of years,” Captain Phillips said. “We’ll be able to transform personnel processes under the Air Force directorate of personnel’s personnel service delivery model and empower members and databases to connect and communicate through e-business applications instead of local personnel flights.”

Those personnel processes include: official personnel notifications and announcements; command, promotion and professional military education candidacy and selection; and retirement, assignment, evaluation, feedback and decoration processing.

Frequently asked questions regarding E4L are available at https://imp.afds.af.mil/e4ls/faqs.jsp.

With exactly 30 days left, training at Little Rock Air Force Base is in full force for the 2007 Air Mobility Command Rodeo. Roughly 55 teams from around the world will take part in the 2007 Rodeo July 22 through July 28 at McChord AFB, Wash. “Everyone competing is highly skilled, highly trained and highly motivated,” said Capt. Robert Shaw, 314th Security Forces Squadron operations officer. “Our goal, going into this, is to bring the trophy back to Little Rock, and bring the Rodeo back as well.”

The competition, sponsored by AMC, is a Mobility Air Forces readiness competition. This competition focuses on improving worldwide air mobility forces’ professional core abilities.

And the Little Rock community has been very vocal about their desire to host Rodeo here in 2009.

“We would love nothing more than to host the entire competition right here beginning in 2009,” said Chris Roberts, head of the Airpower or Arkansas committee. “We are sending a team of community leaders to McChord Air Force Base during this year’s Rodeo to campaign this cause.”

Rodeo showcases airdrop, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, security forces competitions, short field landings and related group operations, and provides an opportunity for the world’s aerial refuelers and airlifters to demonstration capabilities, improve procedures, compare notes and enhance more 50 teams from the active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard unites as well as Allied Nations, according to the official Rodeo website.

Team Little Rock is sending two teams to compete – one from the 314th Airlift Wing and one from the 463rd Airlift Group. “We’re taking both the old and the new from Little Rock,” said Maj. Thomas Rogers, 62nd Airlift Squadron and the pilot in charge of the C-130E team.

And some think that might make for more difficult competition.

“Our biggest competition, honestly, is going to be the C-130Es from right here,” said Capt. Perry Goebel, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Gold aircraft maintenance unit officer in change and the chief for the C-130J maintenance team. “We are going to win the entire competition, but we’re facing some tough competition.”

The confidence that Capt. Goebel has is prevalent among the entire Little Rock AFB Rodeo community.

“Our maintainers are the best in the business and they’re doing a great job for us,” said Maj. Rogers. “We’re looking forward to bringing back some hardware. My expectation is that we’ll win it all!”

1st Lt. Jason Purcell, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintenance officer and the C-130E team chief, said morale is very high, the teams are very motivated and “they are ready to get out there and defend out title.”

Rodeo training for all competitors will continue around base until the teams depart next month.

Air Force Instructions mandate the use of a hands free device when using cell phones while driving. Violators will be cited and face loss of driving privileges on Little Rock Air Force Base. Contact Mr. Jeffery Bardsley, 314th Security Forces Squadron, at 987-6294 for details.

Finance will close temporarily

The Finance Office will be closed temporarily from 1:30 to 3 p.m. July 3 for a change of command ceremony. The Customer Service counter will reopen at 3 p.m.

Drinking water reports available

The 2007 Little Rock Air Force Base drinking water consumer confidence reports are now available. A copy will be provided to all base housing residents. Anyone residing off base and desiring a copy should contact the 314th Civil Engineering Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight at 987-7398.

College registration is in progress for online Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) courses. Southern Illinois University (SIU) is registering students now for computer aided manufacturing. ERAU, SIU, Park University, Arkansas State University-Beebe, Webster University and University of Arkansas-Fayetteville will have schedules available next week for Fall Term I starting in August 2007. For more information, visit the colleges at the Education Center, Bldg 840 Leadership Drive.

Retirement today

Master Sgt. W. Keith Alexander, 29th Weapons Squadron, retires today at 2 p.m. after 24 years of service to the Air Force. Lt. Col. John Gordy, 29th WS commander, will preside over the ceremony, which takes place at the conference center.

Refreshments will be served at a reception immediately after the ceremony. Contact 1st Lt. Samuel Spiwak at 987-6219 for details.

Greens grand opening today

Base officials will hold a ribbon cutting at 3:30 p.m. today at hole 9, adjacent to the former clubhouse. Refreshments will be available after the ceremony. For more information contact the Golf Pro Shop in Hangar 1080 at 987-6825.

Fighting off enemy attacks and the humid Arkansas heat, about 230 Airmen from the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing proved they were combat ready last weekend.

Airmen from across the wing packed up their gear, shuffled through a mobility processing line, hopped on C-130s and landed at the Christmas tree area of the base for a two-and-a-half day mobility exercise, called Hog Heaven.

“I think the wing did very well,” said Lt. Col. Louis Teer, a 154th Training Squadron pilot and deployed commander for the exercise. “We got a lot of good practice for the [upcoming operational readiness inspection next April.”

A highlight, the colonel said, was seeing the 189th Security Forces Squadron incorporate with a New Zealand security forces team to help defend the deployed location from aggressors. The New Zealand forces were here at the base for a Joint Readiness Training Center exercise. The timing of both exercises allowed the Guard and the New Zealand forces to work together.

The New Zealand security forces, coupled with aggressive tactics, kept the base from being overrun on the last day. “We talked about this during a 45-minute meeting [Sunday] night,” the colonel said. “I called all of the commanders from the different sections in and we just sat down and talked. The theme of that talk was, defend the Alamo, and we did it. We did it very well.”

Between attacks, members focused on accounting for personnel, self aid and buddy care and doing their Air Force-trained job.

Part of their job was to build a tent city from the ground up on day one. As temperatures climbed into the 90s in the afternoon heat, Airmen buckled but didn’t falter as tent after tent was erected. The colonel called a 30-minute time out, allowing Airmen to catch their breath and recover from the humid heat.

A dedicated team of support personnel ensured the Airmen in the exercise had plenty of water to stay hydrated and a medical team was on site to tend to any real world incidents.

One Airman on Saturday was taken from the play area by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of chest pains. He was released from the hospital later that evening. A couple others required intravenous fluids to facilitate re-hydration. “People learned a lot about a deployment,” the colonel said.

He said he enjoyed the opportunity to work with all the different organizations from services and security forces to personnel and communications.

As a pilot, he doesn’t interact with those organizations on a daily basis. He relied on an aircrew term — crew resource management and situational awareness — to help guide him through the deployment.

From an evaluator’s perspective, Maj. Daren Dickson, the wing’s plans chief, said the Guard Airmen were effective. He acknowledged that day one was brutal. Airmen showed up for work at 6 a.m. and were in the field shortly after Noon on Saturday. By Saturday evening, the day’s activities combined with the heat had taken their toll.

Sunday morning brought cooler temperatures and a renewed spirit among the deployed members. Later that day, rain showers and lightning moved in, halting the exercise for about an hour and a half.

On Monday, the scenario called for a chemical attack with an all-out assault to follow. The chemical attack caused members to don their chemical warfare defense suits.

Once the chemical threat was gone, the assault was on. The colonel’s plan to neutralize the aggressors was successful; allowing some in the play area not normally tasked with base defense a chance to fire their M-16 rifles. For those who hadn’t fired, their chance came when they had to expend blank rounds before they could clean their rifles and turn them back in for storage.

Exercise Hog Heaven showcased the teamwork and talent of the 189th AW, how it integrates into the Air Force as a whole, and its contributions to the war on terror by providing mission ready people.

Team Little Rock, over the past several weeks, we've had a rash of poor judgment. Drinking and driving incidents are on the rise.

Because I'm concerned for the safety and well-being of our Airmen, families and neighbors, I've asked our Vice Wing Commander, Col. Dave Watson, to lead a task force that will develop a campaign plan to promote responsible alcohol use. You will hear more about the actions we'll take to discourage drinking and driving after the team finishes its work.Drinking and driving while impaired is unacceptable and is a crime on and off base. Let me be absolutely clear – drinking and driving is not a mistake or simple mis-judgment of the situation.

A mistake is an incorrect, unwise act or decision caused by bad judgment or a lack of information or care. We're all human, we all make mistakes. We learn from our mistakes, grow from them and move on. That's how we become better Airmen. It is a proven fact that drunken drivers put themselves and others at serious risk of injury and death. It is simply not acceptable in our wing, on our base, or in our Air Force. Anyone convicted of drinking and driving will be punished to the full extent of the law.

If my designated driver – my Wingman – left me behind, my plan failed. Airmen Against Drunk Driving is there in case your plan fails; our first shirts and squadron commanders are there to provide trusted counsel and support if needed. Every unit on base hands out cards that list phone numbers to call in case your responsible alcohol use plan fails. Use these resources. Don't put yourself or others at risk.

Make the right decision for you and for your family. We lose service members everyday to IED attacks in Iraq and to insurgent uprisings in Afghanistan.

Service dress-clad commanders and chaplains deliver the most horrible news a family would ever imagine to hear when an Airman is killed.

Don't put your family through this same grief by something you have complete control over. Stay smart, use good common sense, and practice sound personal risk management when drinking alcohol. Be safe and be responsible. Your life, and the lives of others, depends on your good judgment. Don't drink and drive.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

THE DROP ZONE CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, AR 72078. You may also email them to dropzoneclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in Friday issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

THRIFT SHOP open to the public. MWF, 10 am to 2 pm, first Saturday monthly. Great bargains. All revenues used to support mission. Volunteers and donations welcome. Jacksonville Care Channel, 201 Elm, 982-4647.

FPMI is seeking to fill the position of T-1A SME, UFT courseware developer at Randolph AFB. Responsible for providing detailed technical on various military and corporate aircraft systems, including communication, navigation and electronic countermeasuers systems. Visit http://jobsearch.fpmi.newjobs.com/ to apply or fax your resume to 256-382-0291. EOE.

ARE YOU from Miami? Military member needs reliable person to drive car from Miami to Little Rock in July. Contact Scott for details. 501-628-4237.

CABOT FSBO. 4 BR All Brick 2100 sq ft home in Magness Creek. A Must see, this home has it all including a unique all glass fireplace, 2 car garage, tons of storage space and Fence Yard. $189,500 Call Bill Carter 501 912 8804